Caesars Announces Hybrid Dealer Games Partnership with Inspired Entertainment

Hybrid games debuted in Michigan barely a month ago, but they are already seeing some massive growth and adoption. At the start of November, Caesars announced that it had entered into a partnership deal with Inspired Entertainment to launch hybrid dealer games across its online casino platforms. Caesars now belongs to an exclusive list of Michigan online casinos with this type of gaming technology on offer.

Starting later in November, customers can access this game on the Caesars Palace Online Casino. This addition is coming just about three months since Caesars introduced its standalone app, featuring a larger library compared to the Caesars Sportsbook MI app.

The technology behind hybrid dealer games aims to blend green screen, virtual CGI and real dealer footage together for a super engaging experience. According to reports, the process is currently awaiting patent grant and seeks to solve some of the most common problems with completely virtual live dealer games.

Now that it is coming to Caesars Casino, it will offer MI players branded and exclusive titles.

“We are excited to be working with Caesars to bring these revolutionary hybrid dealer products to their players,” Brooks Pierce, the President and CEO of Inspired Entertainment said, in a press statement.

“[This] is a whole new category of games, and through our advanced technology, Caesars will be able to provide realistic experiences to their players without the expense and effort of dedicated studios and staffing.”

Interestingly, these hybrid games can be operated without a studio and are available to play 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The results are also random-number-generator certified. Players can bank on regularly changing dealer game hosts to keep the experience more exciting.

BetMGM Casino Michigan was the first operator in Michigan to announce a deal with Inspired Entertainment to provide players in the Great Lakes State with hybrid dealer games. Caesars is now the next to be adding this product to their gaming lineup. These partnerships are proof of the forward-looking nature of the Michigan online gaming industry.

Matt Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Head of iGaming at Caesars Digital had this to say about the innovation:

“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the player experience and for ways to keep our players engaged. Inspired’s Hybrid Dealer technology provides a customizable gaming experience that is second to none and allows our players to enjoy the thrill of our iconic Caesars destinations in a whole new way.”

“This partnership is a testament to our dedication to providing the best online casino experience for our players through cutting-edge offerings.”

Caesars has seen massive revenue boosts since it launched its standalone casino app in the second half of the year. Its income for Q3 2023 is 54% higher than it recorded in Q3 2022. With a new gaming category, there’s no stopping Caesars Casino.

Still on new products but from another segment of the industry, PrizePicks is introducing a free-to-play version in Michigan, with plans for a wider rollout thereafter.

Brian Huss, Vice President of Innovation at PrizePicks, emphasized the significance of the free-to-play format, marking it as the initial step towards introducing various game types. Huss stated in a press release, "This new free-to-play format is the first of new game types to come and opens the door for us to reach sports fans who may not already be familiar with PrizePicks."

Similar to its paid counterpart, the free-to-play version involves creating parlays with two to six player over/under bets, assigning specific credit amounts to each selection. Participants start with 1,000 credits, and the top 100 finishers daily can win cash prizes ranging from $2 to $250, provided they finish with at least 1,001 credits.

The legality of PrizePicks' gameplay has been a subject of scrutiny, particularly with the Michigan Gaming Control Board deeming the pay-to-play game illegal due to its resemblance to sports betting and involvement in proposition bets.

However, by offering a free-to-play alternative, PrizePicks raises the question of whether the activity can be classified as betting when no financial transactions are involved. Despite attempts to seek clarification from the MGCB on this matter, responses remain pending.